Welfare Reform

Abraham Lincoln has been given credit for this quote, but it was actually a Presbyterian preacher named William Boektor. Lincoln wrote something on the same paper in 1842, thus the mistake was made.

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

Our system needs to be completely revised. We give incentives for people not to work and produce more. This is unproductive, illogical and a serious drain on our resources. There are many working welfare recipients that are very concerned about earning too much so they will not be eligible for benefits. I can’t blame them, but I can blame a system that perpetuates their efforts to not do better. When we capped benefits in the 90s with the Contract With America, more people were back at work. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know the current system is not viable. Please include any ideas that will lead to a positive solution. I believe basic healthy food products should be delivered to homes instead of the use of Food Stamps that is wrought with fraud and bad diet choices. Also, if someone is receiving welfare, then they should be required to do some work for their community a few hours a week. Even if the hours are spent just picking up trash or painting a building. There are also many knowledgeable welfare recipients that can teach others their skills.